黑料社

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the value of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector as part of the country’s infrastructure, yet ECEC workers remain undervalued. Drs Helen Norman and Nathan Archer talk to Neil Leitch, Chief Executive at the Early Years Alliance, about how the pandemic has affected the Early Years sector and what the priorities for change are. 

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This episode is part of a , led by Professors Kate Hardy and Jennifer Tomlinson at the 黑料社. The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of the UK Research & Innovation’s rapid response to COVID-19. 

This podcast episode was recorded remotely in August 2021.鈥疘f you would like to get in touch regarding this podcast, please contact鈥�research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. 

About the speakers:  

Helen Norman鈥痠s鈥痑 Senior鈥疪esearch鈥疐ellow鈥痠n the Centre for鈥疎mployment鈥疪elations, Innovation and Change at 黑料社鈥疷niversity鈥疊usiness鈥疭chool. Her鈥痳esearch鈥痜ocuses鈥痮n鈥痜athers鈥痑nd鈥痜atherhood, the鈥痝endered鈥痙ivision of labour and鈥痝ender鈥痠nequalities鈥痠n鈥痺ork,鈥痚mployment鈥痑nd鈥痜amily鈥痩ife. Helen鈥痠s鈥痑lso鈥痠nterested鈥痠n鈥痬others' and鈥痶heir鈥痺ork-care鈥痶rajectories鈥痑fter鈥痟aving鈥痗hildren, as鈥痺ell鈥痑s cross-national variations of鈥痺ork,鈥痚mployment鈥痑nd care practices.鈥�舛寞&苍产蝉辫;

 is a Post Doctoral Researcher鈥痠n the Centre for鈥疎mployment鈥疪elations, Innovation and Change at 黑料社鈥疷niversity鈥疊usiness鈥疭chool.鈥疕is research focusses on the professional identities of early childhood educators and how these are constructed in workforce reform policy and in practice.鈥� 

 is head of the largest voluntary sector childcare operator in the UK, representing 14,000 nurseries, pre-schools, and childminders. The ) also supports more than 800,000 families. Before joining the EYA, Neil held several senior posts within the financial and commercial environment including chair of the Finance Industry Standards Association.鈥�